After three weeks of no camping, we arrived at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois with no hitches. When you reserve online, Illinois has no photos of campsites and they described the slope of our site as "slight." Right. It's fine if you have a ladder to get up to the first step of the camper. The front end is as low as it will go in order to be near level. That said, behind this site is a clearing surrounded by trees with our picnic table and firepit. A lovely spot.

We met the "Glampers" who were here and did a group photo before the Campbells left with their short schoolbus that they are redoing. In case you are not in the know, glampers are into glamorous camping. Campbells' bus is now black with gold filigree on the front and octopus arms wrapping the back. One holds a clock that is always 5:00. More photos later.

Andy and the kids arrived, as well as summer with a vengence. To beat the heat and humidity, Elliot found two super-soaker squirt guns, one of which even worked, and proceeded to shoot himself with it.

Wild life is in evidence. A group of turkeys wandered through the woods around our clearing and crossed the path 20 feet from us, oblivious to our presence. We were warned about the racoons. The night before, they raided the Campbells' cooler for all of their meat and food. One couple found their cooler dragged almost into the woods. Apparently, racoons are concerned about food safety too.

Raccoon are a trained pack in many older campsites, providing immensely entertaining tales of enginuity,strength and cunning....until it happens to you! Starved Rock is well recommended by many....have a great trip. Read your e-mail when I returned home, glad to have book!